I wanted to give you all an update on the situation regarding the spread of the coronavirus. We are following advice and guidance from Public Health England (PHE) and the Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA) as it is released to protect Woodbridge School as best as possible. At the moment, the Chief Medical Officer has described the risk to the UK as low.
As you are no doubt aware, the Government has updated its Coronavirus guidance which now includes Italy and the information can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public
If you have returned from these specific areas since 19 February please make us immediately aware:
- Iran
- Specific lockdown areas in Northern Italy as designated by the Government of Italy (see attached map)
- Special care zones in South Korea as designated by the Government of the Republic of South Korea
- Hubei province (returned in the past 14 days)
We will discuss the next steps with you in terms of school attendance and the advice from the Government is that you should call NHS 111, stay indoors and avoid contact with other people even if you do not have symptoms.
If you have returned from the following areas since 19 February and develop symptoms, however mild, you should stay indoors at home and avoid contact with other people immediately and call NHS 111:
- Northern Italy (defined by a line above, and not including, Pisa, Florence and Rimini),
- Vietnam
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Myanmar
If you have a cough, or fever or shortness of breath and have visited any of the following areas in the last 14 days
- China
- Thailand
- Japan
- Republic of Korea
- Hong Kong
- Taiwan
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- Macau
Stay indoors and call NHS 111 informing them of your recent travel to the city.
As news of the virus continues to change dynamically I will keep you updated as to how it affects our school.
I wanted to give you all an update on the situation regarding the spread of the coronavirus. We are following advice and guidance from Public Health England (PHE) and the Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA) as it is released to protect Woodbridge School as best as possible. At the moment, the Chief Medical Officer has described the risk to the UK as low.
Woodbridge School has put in place some precautionary measures to minimise the potential spread of the infection:
- We have postponed visits from prospective parents, agents and pupils from China and any affected countries until further notice.
- All students from affected countries have been instructed not to travel over the February half term but stay with their local guardians and host families.
- We have also placed restrictions on all other visits to and from affected areas, including those by staff.
- If a parent or carer still decides to require their child to travel, anyone returning from China will be required to spend a period of 14 days in the UK before returning to school, and will self isolate during this time.
It is highly likely that restrictions will still be in place at Easter, and everyone must now plan for that eventuality. We will keep you informed of further developments and should the virus begin to spread within the UK, this guidance will be updated in accordance with the Chief Medical Officers’ requirements.
The whole of Woodbridge school community is being fully supportive of those with family and friends in affected areas and we are well aware of the significant burden of any restrictions that the School makes. Please be assured that the health and welfare of each and every member of our community is our primary concern.
I am extremely grateful for your ongoing support and engagement at this difficult time. I shall continue to update you as the situation develops.
Best wishes,
Miss Shona Norman
Head
